What better way to end a fall day of hiking in Glacier National Park than to enter the Many Glacier Hotel and settle comfortably into one of the armchairs before the cracklin’ fireplace in the hotel lobby? Along with the popping wood and flickering flames, the soft smell of wood smoke mingles with the steam wafting from your hot chocolate, Irish coffee, or hot tea.

In the last issue of the View From the Overlook, P.J. Ryan, retired park ranger, described his experiences as a volunteer docent at the Yellowstone Ranger Museum. He continues his observations in this issue of The View

A new water-filling station at the main visitor center for Lake Mead National Recreation Area has been in service for six months, and in addition to reducing the use of disposable plastic water bottles, the filtered water is catching on with visitors. Since its installation, the station has been used to fill 13,600 water bottles.

On Sunday the National Park Service will turn 97, and for park visitors that means a day without entrance fees.